BlinkVlog

The best vegan jerky can be a lot of things. It can be soy protein masquerading as actual meat. It can be mushrooms tapping into the umami essence of jerky. It can be some totally new thing grown in a lab that one day may join forces with AI to take over the world. All we know is that the best plant based jerky should be savory, chewy, and an all around satisfying snack. 

We tried nearly 20 different kinds of vegan beef jerky for this taste test. We looked for rich, savory flavors—the plant based jerky didn’t necessarily have to taste like a dupe for beef but we wanted it to be meaty in nature—and chewy texture. It had to simulate dried meat, whether it was a soft chew or a tough chew. (Personally, I’m all about the tough chew—the tougher the better—but I understand some people and their dentists would rather their vegan jerky not test the limits of their TMJ.) 

Whether you’re looking for mushroom jerky, seitan jerky, or plant based beef jerky that tastes like real meat, here’s the best vegan jerky out there. (And if you’re looking for the best beef jerky made with actual beef or the best turkey jerky, we’ve got you covered.)

Best Meaty Texture

Beyond Meat’s vegan beef jerky proved controversial amongst the Sporked team. I like the tough, meaty texture and the super-savory, slightly peppery flavor. It was pretty convincing, to me. But the others thought it tasted very artificial and chemically. I think if you prize the tough texture of jerky above all else, this could be the best plant based beef jerky for you. But maybe don’t buy it in bulk until you’ve tasted a single pack.

Credit: Merc / Target

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best New Flavor

Primal’s vegan jerky strips are individually packaged and perfect for throwing into your bag for on-the-go vegan snacking. We tried a lot of their flavors and while they were all pretty good, two of them are worth seeking out (we’ll get to the second one later on). The Thai peanut flavor (made with wheat protein) has the stringiness of real meat and the flavor of chicken satay. It doesn’t punch you in the mouth with flavor—it’s pretty mild—but it’s a departure from the usual jerky flavors and it’s extremely satisfying.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Buffalo

When we taste tested all the main Louisville Vegan Jerky flavors, this one took the top spot. Louisville makes a softer jerky with a soy protein base. It was originally created as a vegan stand-in for manapua (Hawaiian BBQ pork), and you get that when you taste it. It has a pulled pork-esque texture. But the Buffalo dill flavor is something totally new. There’s heat. There’s butter. There’s pickled tang. If your mouth is bored, shove some of this plant based jerky into it.

Credit: Liv Averett / Louisville Vegan Jerky Co.

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Teriyaki

Here’s the best vegan beef jerky for people who need their jerky soft. This stuff is so easy to eat. Made with a base of king oyster mushrooms, it’s thin and delicate and offers just the slightest bit of resistance when you chew. The flavor is sweet-and-savory, just like teriyaki should be.

Credit: Merc / Country Archer

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Smoky

This was the best Primal Spirit vegan beef jerky strip we tried. It really has a convincingly meaty texture and the hickory smoked flavor (which lasts and lasts) fools your brain into thinking you’re tasting meat. If you want to pretend you’re eating meat, then this is the best plant based beef jerky for you, for sure.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

If you don’t care about your vegan jerky being a one-to-one dupe for real beef jerky, then Pan’s mushroom jerky is by far the best vegan jerky out there. The chunks of mushroom do look somewhat like beef jerky nuggets, and at first they do taste pretty meaty, but the flavor on the end is all mushroom—delicious mushroom. The texture is right in the middle—soft enough that you don’t need leverage to rip off a bite but chewy enough that it’ll keep you busy for a minute. Both the Original flavor and the Zesty Thai flavor really stood out to us (the Zesty Thai is fairly identical to the Original, it’s just a little spicy), but you can’t go wrong with Pan’s. If you’re looking to skip the meat, go for the mushroom. 

Credit: Merc / Targetb

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

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